Proud Bull Rising Part 7

2828

As the military construction capacity increases, supplies of weapons for that construction are beginning to be stretched thin. An expansion of the Sterope Defense Industries (SDI) plant on Sterope is begun to increase production of its various systems. SDI also begins work on a new plant on Pinard to place it close to both Taurus and New Vandenburg to supply those mech factories. The VMI facility on New Vandenburg begins to expand the Stinger STG-3R and Wasp WSP-1A light mechs production by adding a pair of lines of each.

The Ministry of Trade and Colonies expands the program that they've been using to encourage immigration from the Outback region of the FedSuns to include the periphery worlds of the Capellan Commonwealth as well. With the Liaos having to withdraw support more and more from these border worlds, they find numerous people and families looking to move to worlds with better opportunities. This soon provides an additional steady stream of immigrants for the Concordat colony worlds.

TDF liaison officers sat down with the commanders or the mercenary units the Blackhearts, Cardinal Sins, and the Black Band Legion to discuss new contracts. All three are re-signed to long term contracts that offer favorable terms to assist them in continued rebuilding to their former full strength. This included assisting them in recruiting from refugees that had survivors from broken military units in addition to favorable terms in purchasing new mechs and vehicles from the Taurian industries.

2829

As the TTI Maultier lines on Taurus slowly begin to produce the hover transport, plans are put in place to expand the production to the TTI plant on Sterope as well. Construction will begin though won't be completed for several years. By 2832 though, the TDF should have constant and steady deployment of this vehicle going into its main infantry and armor regiments as well as selling some to the mercenary forces in their employ.

Numerous pirate attacks clandestinely funded by Comstar begin to raid along the entire expanse of the Concordat borders. While the pirates achieve some limited success, many of the raids are successfully defended against by the local militias with their new vehicles from the Quikcell factories on New Vandenburg. These reliable combat vehicles allow the defenders to deal severe damage to the light and medium mechs that compose most of the pirate bands. Intelligence research into the attacks proves baffling though. The basic assumption that it was backed by the Davions was hard to prove. With their attention so focused on the Liaos and Kuritans, they had negligable resources available for use on the Periphery.

The TDF engineering units and survey teams continue to do impressive work as they continue through Taurian space. Improved space ports and warehousing facilities across the various worlds makes it easier and more cost effective for traders which helps drive the economy. The incoming merchants bring a new wave of colonists from the innermost part of the Inner Sphere, colonists who have decided to relocate and start over rather than trying to rebuild over and over on contested worlds.

2830

The Taurian Defense Force, with new material coming from it's various factories begins to look at shoring up its forces. While the various armor and infantry regiments raised by the various worlds are between 60 and 90 percent of operational readiness, almost all of the mech units were down to between 35 and 50 percent of operational readiness due to lack of long term maintainence, attrition from pirate raids, and other problems. This rebuilding effort will include reconstituting up to full TOE any armor and infantry units attached to the mech regiments.

The Taurian Guard Corps, consisting of the Taurian Guard Regiment, the Concordat Commandos Regiment, and the Taurian Velites Regiment, are the first formations to be focused on for this rebuilding. In addition to adding personel and missing equipment, the units are also put through a fairly rigorous training period to fully integrate these new additions. The units are all redeployed to Taurus for this undertaking and will be redeployed across the Hyades Cluster to their normal garrison duties once fully reconstituted.

Trade negotiations with the Free Worlds League leads to the rights to produce the Maultier going to Kallon Industries in return for favorable prices for the rights to produce the Wolverine WVR-6M medium mech and the Rifleman RFL-3N heavy mech. A large amount of the Celano SLDF cache goods that they are unable to reproduce is also sent to the FWL as part of this trade deal. Lines are to be added to the VMI facility on New Vandenderg for both mechs and the TTI facility on Sterope for the Wolverine. The Wolverine lines are scheduled to be finished in 2833 and the Rifleman line completed in 2834.

With the outbreak of the 2nd Succession War, the TDF slightly raises its alert status along the borders as a precaution. Patrols and reconnaissance missions are increased as the old fear of Davion invasion raises its head again. While not detecting any immediate threat, the level of alert remains much higher than normal for the next several years. Intelligence agents remain deployed on the Davion side of the border on the most likely gathering worlds for an invasion or raiding force.

So that's the latest overdue installment. Hope you are enjoying it and I'll see you next time!